by Lenny Padilla

Hope midfielder Liam Cunningham scored a goal just 12 seconds into the game, and the historic rout was on.

The Hope College men's lacrosse team scored the first 10 goals of the contest and went on to defeat Adrian College, 24-3, on Saturday afternoon in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament held at Van Andel Soccer Stadium.

The 24 goals tied for the second-most scored in MIAA tournament history. Albion College holds the record with 26 goals scored against Olivet College in 2015.

The Flying Dutchmen improve to 10-1. They now host Calvin University on Tuesday, May 4 at 7 p.m.

Luke Elder and Michael Mann each had four goals as 15 different players had at least one goal for the Flying Dutchmen. Elder, a senior from Grand Rapids, Mich. (East Grand Rapids HS) is second on the team with 41 goals this season. Mann, a freshman from Plymouth, Mich. (University of Detroit-Jesuit), has 27 goals.

Junior Jack Radzville (Howell, Mich. / Howell HS) had three goals on Saturday and leads the team with 44. Junior Zach Wiggins (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Mattawan HS) also had a hat trick with three goals. Cunningham, a junior from South Lyon, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central HS) had the lone goal, his 12th of the season.

The Flying Dutchmen led 15-2 at halftime and 19-2 at the end of the third. Coach Michael Schanhals pulled most of his starters for the final frame. 

Ethan Pinto, fresh off of playing for the ACHA national champion Hope College hockey team, also scored. It was the first goal of the season for the senior from Grand Rapids, Mich. (Forest Hills Eastern HS) in just his second game of the year. 

Three goaltenders played in the game for Hope College. Starter John Shea, a sophomore from Commerce Township, Mich. (Detroit Catholic Central) got the win allowing two goals on four shots. Ian Bosman (Centennial, Colo./Cherry Creekand HS) and Peter Reynolds (Holland, Mich./Black River HS) also saw playing time. 

The Hope defense was just as impressive as the offense. The three goals allowed on Saturday are tied for the fewest in MIAA Tournament history. The Flying Dutchmen held Calvin University to three goals in an MIAA semifinal in 2019.